Top 10 Famous Kpop Groups of All Time

In recent years, K-pop groups have swept the globe with their captivating fans and irresistible charm, infectious tunes, and mesmerizing performances. If you’re a K-pop enthusiast looking to deepen your knowledge, you’ve come to the right place.

This comprehensive guide brings together the most iconic K-pop groups of all time, showcasing their incredible journeys and cultural impact. From the chart-topping sensation BTS to the fierce and fabulous BLACKPINK, we’ll delve into the unparalleled talent and global influence of these extraordinary artists. Let’s dive in and celebrate the phenomenon of K-pop!

10 Famous Kpop Groups

1: BTS

Nickname: Bangtan Sonyeondan / Bangtan Boys / Bulletproof Boy Scouts

Members: Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook

Formation Year: 2013

Best Works:

• Butter
• Dynamite
• Permission to Dance
• My Universe
• Life Goes On

BTS, also known as the Bangtan Boys, is a seven-member South Korean boy band formed by Big Hit Entertainment. Debuting in June 2013 with the song “No More Dream” from their album 2 Cool 4 Skool, BTS quickly gained recognition, winning several New Artist of the Year awards. They achieved international success with albums like Dark & Wild, The Most Beautiful Moment in Life series, and Wings, which broke records on the U.S. Billboard 200.

Known for their igniting performances and impactful music, BTS became the first Korean group to receive Gold and Platinum certifications from the RIAA.

Their albums Love Yourself: Tear and Love Yourself: Answer topped the Billboard 200, making them the only K-pop act to achieve this feat. Renowned for its social media presence, BTS has won numerous awards, including the Billboard Music Awards and the Order of Cultural Merit from the South Korean government.

2: Twice

Nickname: Nation’s Girl Group

Members: Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu

Formation Year: 2015

Best works:

• One Spark
• What is Love
• The Feels
• I Got You
• Look At Me

Twice, formed by JYP Entertainment in 2015 through the TV program Sixteen, quickly gained popularity as one of the leading South Korean girl groups. Comprising nine members, Twice debuted with the EP “The Story Begins” and gained widespread fame with their 2016 hit single “Cheer Up.”

Known for chart-topping tracks like “TT” and record-breaking albums in South Korea and Japan, they are recognized for their viral dance moves and significant achievements, including topping Billboard charts and receiving platinum certifications. Their first English single, “The Feels,” marked their entry into the US Billboard Hot 100 and UK Singles Chart.

3: Blackpink

Members: Jisoo, Jennie Kim, Lisa, and Rosé

Formation Year: 2016

Best Works:

• Boombayah
• Kill This Love
• As If It’s Your Last
• How You Like That

Blackpink, formed by YG Entertainment, consists of Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa, and Rosé. They debuted on August 8, 2016, with the single “Square One,” featuring their first South Korean number-one song, “Whistle,” and “Boombayah,” which topped the Billboard World Digital Songs chart.

Lying one among the famous K-pop groups, Blackpink’s success in the first five months garnered them numerous rookie awards. Blackpink is the highest-charting female K-pop act on Billboard Hot 100 with “Ddu-Du Ddu-Du” and on Billboard 200 with “Square Up.” Furthermore, they are also the first female K-pop group to top Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart and have four number-one singles on Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales chart.

4: Stray Kids

Nickname: SKZ

Members: Bang Chan (Leader), Lee Know (Minho), Felix, Hyunjin, Seungmin, I.N (Jeongin), Han (Jisung), and Changbin

Formation Year: 2017

Best Works:

• Lose My Breath
• LALALALA
• S-Class
• Maniac
• Megaverse

Stray Kids is a South Korean boy group with eight members. They debuted on March 25, 2018, under JYP Entertainment after appearing on the survival show “Stray Kids.” They have built a loyal fanbase called Stay, thanks to their bubbly personalities, sarcastic humor, immense talent, and hard work.

Stray Kids have released several popular albums, including “Go Live,” “Noeasy,” “Oddinary,” “Maxident,” “5-Star,” and “Rock-Star.” They are known for hits like “God’s Menu,” “Thunderous,” “Maniac,” and “S-Class,” contributing to their global success and recognition in the music industry.

Known for their humility, generosity, passion, intelligence, and sincerity, Stray Kids are also admired for their kind hearts and good looks.

5: ITZY

Members: Yeji, Lia, Ryujin, Chaeryeong, and Yuna

Formation Year: 2019

Best Works:

• Dalla Dalla
• It’z Me and Not Shy
• Nobody Like You

South Korean quintet ITZY brings an energetic twist to K-pop with their buoyant electronic dance anthems and uplifting lyrics. Debuting in January 2019 with the hit single “Dalla Dalla,” ITZY participated in various television survival shows before coming together under JYP Entertainment.

Their debut EP, It’z Icy, released in July 2019, quickly rose to the top three in Korea and made notable chart appearances in the U.S. Subsequent releases like It’z Me and Not Shy continued their chart-topping success, culminating in their first full-length album, Crazy in Love, in 2021. In 2022, ITZY reached new heights with their Top Ten U.S. EP, Checkmate, solidifying their place in the global K-pop scene.

6: Seventeen

Members: S.Coups, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, DK, Mingyu, The8, Seungkwan, Vernon, and Dino.

Formation Year: 2015

Best Works:

• Super
• Hot
• Don’t Wanna Cry
• Very Nice

Seventeen, referred to as SEVENTEEN or SVT is a South Korean boy group formed by Pledis Entertainment in 2015. The 13-member group is divided into three sub-units: Hip-Hop, Vocal, and Performance, each specializing in a specific area. Known as a “self-producing” idol group, Seventeen members are deeply involved in songwriting and choreography.

Before their debut, the members appeared on Seventeen TV and the reality show Seventeen Project: Big Debut Plan. Their official debut was on May 26, 2015, with a live showcase on MBC. This was followed by the release of their first EP, 17 Carat, which became the longest-charting K-pop album of the year in the US. Seventeen has since collected many accolades, including three rookie awards and several for choreography and dance performance.

7: (G)I-DLE

Members: Miyeon, Minnie, Soyeon, Yuqi, and Shuhua

Formation Year: 2018

Best Works:

• Villain Dies
• Latata
• Up-Oh
• Tomboy

(G)I-dle is a prominent South Korean girl group formed by Cube Entertainment in 2018. Their debut single, “Latata,” from the EP, I Am, marked their entry into the music scene on May 2, 2018, followed by their Japanese debut with the same song in 2019.

Known for their creative involvement, particularly by Soyeon, who writes and produces most of their music, the group gained significant recognition with their 2020 single “Dumdi Dumdi” and further success with “Tomboy” and “Nxde” in 2022, both topping the Circle Chart.

In 2023, this Kpop group made history by ranking on the US Billboard Pop Airplay chart with a non-English song, a first for an act from an independent label.

8: TXT

Nickname: Tomorrow X Together

Members: Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, Taehyun, and Huening Kai

Formation Year: 2019

Best Works:

• Crown
• Run Away
• 0X1=LOVESONG (I Know I Love You) (ft. Seori)
• Blue Hour
• Drama

Tomorrow x Together, commonly known as TXT, is a five-member South Korean boy band formed by Big Hit Entertainment. They debuted on March 4, 2019, with the EP “The Dream Chapter: Star,” which peaked at number one on the Gaon Album Chart and Billboard World Albums Chart and entered the US Billboard 200 at number 140, making it the highest-charting debut album by any male K-pop group.

With their lead single ‘Crown,’ TXT didn’t just top the World Digital Songs chart, they also became the fastest K-pop group to top the Billboard Emerging Artists Chart. This rapid rise to success is truly awe-inspiring. Their impressive debut earned them multiple accolades, including Rookie of the Year at the 34th Golden Disc Awards, the 2019 Melon Music Awards, and Best New Male Artist at the 2019 Mnet Asian Music Awards.

9: NewJeans

Members: Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein

Formation Year: 2022

Best Works:

• Cool with You
• Ditto
• Hype Boy
• OMG
• Attention

NewJeans, a South Korean girl group formed by ADOR, burst onto the scene in July 2022 with their debut single “Attention”. Their girl-next-door image and 1990s-inspired pop and R&B songs quickly captivated audiences, propelling them to the forefront of the K-pop scene with their debut extended play, featuring chart-toppers like “Hype Boy” and “Cookie”.

In January 2023, they released their first single album, OMG, with singles “Ditto” and “OMG” achieving significant success. “Ditto” became a long-running number-one hit, marking their entry onto the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart.

NewJeans garnered several rookie awards and appeared in prestigious lists such as Time’s Next Generation Leaders and Forbes’s Korea Power Celebrity 40. Beyond music, they have extended their presence and collaborated with major brands like Musinsa, Levi’s, Coca-Cola, LG Electronics, and McDonald’s Korea.

10: IVE

Members: Gaeul, Yujin, Rei, Wonyoung, Liz, and Leeseo

Formation Year: 2021

Best Works:

• I am
• After Like
• Baddie
• Love Dive
• Accendio

IVE, formed by Starship Entertainment, is a prominent South Korean girl group debuting on December 1, 2021. Their debut single album “Eleven” saw significant success, topping charts and earning multiple music show wins. Following this, their single album “Love Dive” produced their first number-one song on the Circle Digital Chart and won several “Song of the Year” awards.

Their third single album, “After Like,” also featured a chart-topping lead single. In 2023, I’VE released their debut studio album, “I’ve Ive,” which included hit singles “Kitsch ” and “I Am,” both of which reached the top of the Circle Digital Chart.

Known for its rapid rise and impactful presence in the K-pop industry, IVE has become one of the most famous K-pop groups, and it is celebrated for its musical achievements and influential style.